San Diego is extending parking meter hours and starting Sunday enforcement this week as part of sweeping new rules aimed at boosting city revenue.
Parking meters will immediately begin operating for two hours longer per day in several neighborhoods, including Pacific Beach, North Park, South Park, the College Area, Kensington, Talmadge, Normal Heights and City Heights.
Other areas where the new hours will take effect this week include Redwood Village, El Cerrito, Rolando Park, Rolando, Oak Park, part of Golden Hill and part of University Heights.
City officials say they will then move on to downtown San Diego and Uptown, an area that includes Mission Hills, Hillcrest and Bankers Hill. Those areas will get extended hours and Sunday enforcement sometime before Oct. 1.
The extended hours will only affect how late in the evening meters are in effect, with start times remaining either 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. depending on neighborhood. End times will move either from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. or from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., depending on the neighborhood.
Operating hours for Pacific Beach meters, which now end at 8 p.m., will extend to 10 p.m. All meters will now be enforced on Sundays.
Operating hours for meters in the other neighborhoods in the first wave — called the Mid-City Parking District — will shift their end time from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. In Mid-City, Sunday enforcement will take place only on El Cajon Boulevard.
City crews have begun placing stickers on parking meter signs to make drivers aware of the new hours and the new Sunday enforcement. Some of the Mid-City neighborhoods have either no meters or very few.
People who live in neighborhoods that get Sunday enforcement have been promised they will also get an opportunity to buy residential parking permits, which now cost only $9 a year.
But this preliminary Sunday enforcement is taking place before those permits become available because it is restricted to commercial areas, said city spokesperson Nicole Darling.
When Sunday enforcement is extended into residential areas, the permits will be available, she said.
The changes are part of a larger package that includes $10-an-hour meters near Petco Park and more meters in neighborhoods across the city. City officials say they’re also close to finalizing plans to start charging for parking at the San Diego Zoo and the rest of Balboa Park.
While the changes were spurred by a city budget crisis and are projected to raise millions in revenue, city officials say they will also increase turnover of parking spaces and make it easier for drivers to find spots.
Officials also stress that other large cities in California, particularly Los Angeles and San Francisco, already charge much more for parking and have much more aggressive parking rules and enforcement.
They also note that additional revenue generated will be used for infrastructure projects in the neighborhoods where the money is collected. But because the city now uses general fund money for such projects, the new revenue will free up some general fund money for other priorities.
Critics say the city is gouging ordinary residents and tourists to help balance its budget.
The city doubled meter rates last winter from $1.25 an hour to $2.50 an hour. Parking violation fines have also been sharply increased for most violations.
Drivers with a disabled placard or license plate will still be able to park at meters throughout the city for free.
When the changes come to downtown, meters by the waterfront operated by the San Diego Unified Port District will not be affected.